The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-05

We have II ON the authority of Captain Robert
BOYD OF the United States flagship Richmond that
the owners OF fishing craft on the New England
ton with the shery BUSINESS ss Me
that last year and this year have been the worst
time. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland cod fisher,
men with the advantage of a near ba9e OF sup
ples ana opportunities for forwarding, have been
aDie with poorer outfit and less capital to SUCCESS
Iully compete with the American fleet. In the
mackerel fishery scarcely one American vessel
mas made wages since 1885. This thing cannot
the Richmond was last on tho New England coast
ne was informed on the best authority that the
as @ S SwcsFs wsfe from the trade
unless q favorable adjustment of the dispute was
sIrived AZ tney would soon have 70 interest what
ever IN the fisheries."- John Sun.
1t is undoubtedly true that last season, and
this SO far, have been far from profitable to
our fishermen. If this i'll luck should con-
tinue there is probably no doubt that many
OF the New England fishing schooners would
be forced to engage in some more profitable
employment or remain idle altogether. But
this is not to be attributed wholly, or even
In great part, to the vexatious regulations of
Canada. In the mackerel fisheries, for in
stance, wherein it is stated that scarcely
one American vessel has made wages since
1885" the failure is due largely to the search
ty Of fish. The use of seines has caused a
revolution in mackerel fishing. Formerly,
under the old system Of fishin by hooks, the
fish were tolled along the coast inshore by
the bait of the fishermen. The ,urney which
the mackerel makes from south TO north was
Tree from harrassing circums anees to all
but the fish that were hooked, and they
rarelydixed TO profit by their experience.
Now our fishermen go south in the spring
with their seines and meet the fish at Hat
teras. Over the whole route from there to
Prince Edward Island, the mackerel have
each year run series ofgauntlets, while the
seines have gathered in the fish, young and
old, fit and unfit. The last Congress inter-
fered TO protect the fish, but In the opinion
OF experienced fishermen, damage enough
had already been done to account for the
scarcity OF mackerel. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that mackerel, as well as other ami
mails, are capable Of profting by dangerous
experiences, and will seek new haunts in
distant waters when their old haunts are
broken up by too greedy seiners. 1t will
take more than a favorable adjustment of
the fisheries dispute" to make the mackerel
plenty again. Our cod fishermen are I'M
doubleday at considerable disadvantage in
being denied the right to get supplies in Ca
madam ports; but this is right that belongs
to them justly, and ought to be obtained for
them by our government without any "fayor-
able adjustment of the dispute in the sense
that the Canadians give to the expression,
meaning probably commission or a new
treaty If Captain Boyd is right in his state
ment that the owners of fishing craft ON the
New England coast have commenced to close
up their connection with the fishery bust
ness" 1t only reflects on the energy of our
government. Judging from Portland. how
ever, Captain Boyd's statement is too strong.